Written by

Lisa Roose-Church

Gannett Michigan

A Wixom man accused of randomly firing at motorists along the I-96 corridor in 2012 is expected to take the stand in his own defense on Monday.

Raulie Casteel is likely to be the defense’s only witness, his attorneys confirmed today.

The defense said Casteel’s intent was not to terrorize, intimidate or kill. Rather, he “was chasing demons” in his mind, his attorneys said.

Casteel is charged in Livingston County with terrorism in connection with 23 shootings along the I-96 corridor in four counties in October 2012. Casteel, who also faces charges of assault with intent to murder, faces up to life in prison if convicted. The defense said he is contesting the terrorism and assault charges, but not the firearms charges.

The trial continues Wednesday morning in Judge David Reader’s courtroom in Howell.

FBI Special Agent David Kotal testified that Casteel showed “no real emotional reaction” on Nov. 5, 2012, when federal agents questioned him at his home. He said Casteel was cooperative, turning over his 9-mm and .45-caliber pistols.

Kotal said Casteel initially agreed to be interviewed by police, but changed his mind. “He said he’d talk to us after the ballistic tests were done,” the FBI agent said.

Whether that interview occurred was not disclosed in Kotal’s testimony.

In other testimony today, witnesses said schoolchildren, parents and drivers were on edge during the estimated three-week period between the start of the shootings and Casteel’s arrest.

Christopher Delgado, deputy superintendent for the Walled Lake school district, said administrators canceled everything Oct. 16, 2012, the first day of the shootings, and implemented its “shelter in place” protocol for the district’s 19 school buildings. That restriction was lifted in the following days after consultation with police, who also increased their presence at district facilities.

“Children were scared, and parents were anxious,” Delgado said.

So far, only one witness has identified Casteel as the man she saw smiling and laughing after her vehicle was shot as she traveled on M-52 in Ingham County on Oct. 18, 2012.

Meanwhile, Casteel faces sentencing Jan. 30 in Oakland County after pleading no contest but mentally ill to multiple counts of assault with intent to commit great bodily harm less than murder and using a firearm in a felony for the incidents in Wixom. An agreement calls for Casteel to receive a sentence of no more than 12 years in prison.

Lisa Roose-Church is a reporter for the Daily Press & Argus. Contact her: 517-552-2846 or lrchurch@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @LisaRooseChurch.